Simulated bowling game device



Dec. 4, 1956 R. H. GALBREATH 2,772,884

SIMULATED BOWLING GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1953 De-4, 1956 R. H. GALBRl-:ATH 2,772,384

SIMULATED BOWLING GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14. 1953 /3KCA 7 if 37 *mira-542g;

` INVENTOR. 4/

Unitedd States Patent() d l 2,772,884 t SIMULATED BOWLING GAME DEvIcERobert Harvey GalbreatlyDenver, Colo. V.tlmilicatimn september 14,1953s'eriai 10,379,841

i tlclai'ms.` (ctms-127i ,Y Y

This invention relates'toa bowling game, and has for its principalobject the lprovision of a single, unitary game device whichcan^be1usedupon a ioor or lawn for simulating a conventional bowlingalley.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowling game inwhich aplayer rolls two bowling balls by hand, similar to 4the usual game of.bowling or ten pins, and to provide a game devicefwhich will act toextinguish lights to represent the pins which are knocked down by theballs. p

A further object is to provide a bowling game device of this character'in which lighted targets represent the pins remaining standing after aballis bowled, to indicate to the bowler the proper position to directhis second ball.

` A still further object `is to provide a bowling device withlanvindicating target which when struck by a ball will act to multiplythe score obtained by the other ball. t

struction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy,and efficiency.' These will become more apparent from the followingdescription.

In the following detailed descriptionv of the invention, reference ishad tothe' accompanying4 drawing which forms a` part hereof. Like`numerals refer to `like parts in all views of thevdrawing andthroughout the description.

In the drawing: 1 f i Fig. `l is afront View of the improved lawnbowlinggame;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged cross-section, taken on` the line 33,Y Fig. l;vv 1

Fig. 4 is a rear view thereof on the same scale as Fig. l, partiallybroken away toA show interior construction;

Fig. 5 is a wiringA diagram4 illustrating the yarrangement oftheelectric circuits employed in the improved game device; and t `Fig. 6 isa simplified circuit diagram, illustrating the basic electric circuitsemployed in the game device.

In Fig. 5 the circles indicate electric lamps. For the purpose ofsimplification, the circuit from a supply main to one side only of eachlamp is illustrated in thediagram. It is to be understood that the otherside of each lamp is vconnected to a second supplymai'n common toalllampsjk [While the game is4 particularly intended as a lawn t'bowling gameyitis, ofcourse, not limited to this parballs are rolled'toward` yarrelongated,housingl Other objects and advantagesfreside inthe detail con-'-` supporting brackets 13. The elongated housing is pro-Y vided with a relatively thin oor 14 having an inclined,

beveled forward edge 15 which directs the balls onto the ioor 14.

The housing is provided with a backing 16 provided with a plurality ofspaced-apart window openings 17 along its lower portion. A stop strip 18extends along the backing 16 and is preferably provided with a cushionstrip 19 of sponge rubber or similar material for absorbing the impactof the balls 23.

A vertically-moving hinged ap 20 is positioned over each of the windowopenings 17 throughout the length of the housing 11. The forwardextremities of the aps Z0 are hinged to and below a casing strip 21 uponany suitable hinges 22. The rear extremities of the aps 20 rest upon thestop strip 18.

The casing strip 21 is rabbeted to receive a plurality of alignedmicro-switches, there being one of the switches above the medial portionof each of the ilaps 20, as indicated at S10 in Fig. 3. These switchesare of any standard variety having a spring-projected operating knob 24which, when forced into the switch acts to break or make i of suitablescrews 25.

The upswing of the flaps 20 is limited by means of a limit strip 26secured to the backing 16. A wiring channel 27 is provided along thebacking 26 for receiving the electrical circuit wires of the device.Wiring openings 48 communicate with the wiring channel 27.

The flaps 20 are constantly urged downwardly against the stop strip 18by gravity and by the spring-actuated knobs 24 of the micro-switches.Should additional urging be desired, springs 47 may be provided to reactagainst and urge the flaps downwardly. The flaps 20 are positionedrelative to the floor 14 so that when a ball 23 passes beneath a ap 20,it will swing the latter upwardly suciently far to contact the operatingknob 24 of the adjacent micro-switch to operate the latter. It ispreferred to position the limit strip 26 so that it will act to stop theupward movement of the extremity of the ap 20 slightly before the balls23 strike the stop strip 18 so as to create a wedging action between thefloor and the flap to retard the flight of the ball.

It is desired to call attention to the fact that the sharpened forwardedge 15 of the oorl 14 terminates rearwardly of the forward face of thecasing strip 21 so that the ball will have entered beneath its flap 20before it is forced upwardly onto the floor 14.

A light chamber 28 is positioned to the rear of each of the windowopenings 17. The light chambers 28 are separated from each other bymeans of light impervious partitions 38 and each light chamber containsan electric target lamp carried in a suitable lamp socket 29. The lampsare positioned above the windows 17 to be somewhat distant from theimpact point of the ball to prevent breakage of the electric lamps.

The bottom of each light chamber 28 may be provided with an inclinedreiiecting surface 30, preferably covered with light-reflecting beadpaint to reflect the light from the lamps forwardly through the windowopenings 17. Access is had to the light chambers 28 through the mediumof rear doors 31 depending from hinges 32 and secured by means ofsuitable latches 33.

In the preferred game device, there are eleven of the window openings 17and eleven of the flaps 20. The flaps `are placed in` close proximity toeach other so as to provide a substantially continuous inclined ceilingover A V-the ball-receiving portion of the housing 1,1 I p Thescore-indicating boardA 12 is mounted in a suit.- able enclosing frame34 having a removable back 35. The board 12 is provided with tenopenings in triangula; arrangement, similar to thev arrangement of thesetting-ofbowling pins. Each of these openings is. pro- Yided withalamp-receiving socket 36,l preferably of` the type known as sign socketswhich can be attached through openings in a supporting member. Anelectric signal lamp is positioned in each socket 36.

In addition to the ten triangularly-arranged sockets, two additionalsockets are provided, one for supporting a colored strike or spareindicating lamp, indicated by the letter S and a double indicating lamp,indicated by the letter D. An electrical receptacle 37 is provided atone extremity of the housing 11 to receive an electrical conductor cordfor conveying` current to the game apparatus. Y

The game is Wired according to the schematic circuit diagram of Fig. 6,wherein the lamps in the light chambers 28 are designated by thenumerals 1 to 1t), inclusive.

rl`he number used to designate each lamp will indicate the numbervoflamps extinguished at the time any given lamp is extinguished, as willbe later described.

The lamps in the score-indicating board 12 are indicated on the diagramby the prime numbers from 1 to 10, each prime-numbered lampcorresponding to one of the non-prime-numbered lamps. In other words,the number 6 lamp will illuminate and extinguish simultaneously with thenumber 6 lamp. The lamp in the furthermost light chamber to the rightwill be indicated by the letter D which functions in cooperation withthe lamp D on the score board 12.

The micro-switch associated with each pair of lamps will be hereindesignated by a number corresponding to the number of the lamps itcontrols and preceded by the letter S, thus, micro-switch S2 willcontrol lamps 2 and 2. The micro-switch controlling lamp D will beherein designated as SD.

Each pair of lamps from 1 to 10 is connected through the medium ofconnecting wires 39 to a rst current supply main 40. The lamps S, D, andD are connected by means of a connecting wire 46 to the current supplymain 40. Micro-switch S is connected to a second current supply main 41.switch S10 to micro-switch S9, thence to micro-switch S8, and continuesthrough each successive micro-switch by4 means of interconnecting switchwires 42 and microswitch S1 is reached.

Thus all of the micro-switches from S1 to S10 are in series with eachother. are of the normally closed type which open a circuit whenpressure is applied to the knob 24. The far side of each micro-switch Slthru S10 is connected in multiple by means of a lamp wire 43 to the twolamps designated by the same number as the respective micro-switch.

Micro-switch S10 is of the double-throw variety, that is, it is providedwith make contacts as well as break contacts. The make Contact ofmicro-switch S10 is connected to the colored strike lamp S. Themicroswitch SD is of the normally open variety, as opposed to the otherswitches, and 4acts to close a circuit through a lamp wire 44communicating with the double lamp D.

Let us assume that a player rolls a ball 23 toward the housing 11, andthat this ball strikes the flap 20 below micro-switch S9, as indicatedin Fig. l. causes the ap to swing upwardly to actuate its microswitch S9so as to break the circuit immediately ahead yof lamps 9 and 9. Thisstops the ow of current to all of the lamps except 10 and 10', as can beseen from a study of Fig. 6. The only light remaining on the score board1-2'is 10'. Nine lamps have been extinguished on the score `board 12:and the only window openings 17 remaining illuminated are those belowlamp 10 and below lamp D. The score isn-ine.

The current flows from micro-V Tne micro-switches S1 thru S10 This.

envases The. player` Garinow choose, whether to roll toward the windowilluminated byv lamp 10 or toward the window illuminated by lamp D.,Should he roll to the former window opening, the ball will extinguishlamps 10 and 10', giving a score of ten. Should he roll to the windowbelow lamp D, the ball will cause the ap 20 thereover to closemicrorswiteh-SD and illuminate lamp D', which will indicate he maydouble his original score of nine to producea score of eighteen.

Should his roll toward. the' window below lamp 10 be successful, it willcause the double-throw micro-switch S10 to close a circuit, through wire45v tox the spare and strike indicating IampSto indicate he has obtainedeither a spare'or a strike depending upon whether it was the first `orsecond ball. The spare or strike will be scored similarly to the usualbowling scoring rules.

It is preferred to use .colored lamp: bulbs for the lamps S, D, and D',and to. use white lamps for the remaining lamps. If the lamps, S1 and D.are colored, they will not visibly interfere withthe white triangleformed on the score board by the ten. white lamps. If the lamp D iscolored, Sit .will not visibly interfere. with the tenwhiteli-ghtedwindow openings simulating the ten bowling pins.

kIt is preferred. to-.forrn the. aps from a relatively stiff yet exiblematerial, such as tempered Masonite, so that they may ex to retard theimpact of the balls.

In the following claims..thef nonrprimefnumbered lamps in the lightchambers 28a/.ill be `referred to as target lamps, and theprime-nutriberedl lamps: will be referred to as. signal lamps. Theimaginary cubicle before each window opening 17 and below each ap 20will be referred to` in the claims, as, a ballrreceiving chamber, andthe Window: openings 17 will be referred to as targets.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same.maybevar-ed, within the scope of the appendedV claims, withoutdeparting from Vthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described `the invention, what is claimed and desiredsecured. by Letters Patentis:

l. A simulatedl bowling" game comprising: an elongated housing adaptedto be positioned :transversally of the path of a rolling ball; aplurality of aligned illuminated target windows in said housing; anelongated open-fronted, ball-receiving chamber positioned forwardly ofsaid windows; a oor in said chamber; a plurality of hinged aps formingthe ceiling over said ballfreceiving chamber, there being one lofsaidaps: positioned forwardly of and above each window, said flaps beingpositioned relative to said door so. that when said ball rolls onto saiddoor, it will wedge between the door and. one of said tiaps so as toforce the flap upwardly; signal lamps; and an electric switch positionedto. be actuatedl in consequence of the upward .movement of .each of',saidv flaps, .each of said switches being in circuit with one of saidsignal lamps s0 as to give an indication whenthe ap associated therewithis swung upwardly. Y

2. A simulated' bowling igame .as described in claim 1 having a targetilluminating each -of said windows, eachV of said target .lamps being;in `circuit with the switch associatedv with the Hap-.positionedforwardly of its respective window, said vswitches being normally closedso that when a ap is moved upwardly under the wedging action of saidball, its associated switch will be opened to simultaneously extinguish.both the target lamp andthe signallamp in circuit. with the latterswitch.

3. A simulated bowling game. as described vin claim 2 in which all ofthe switches are connected in series so that the openingl of any ,givenswitch .will de-energize the succeeding switches inf said Seriesl |andtheir associated signal and target lamps.. e

4. AV simulated boviilngggame comprising; anelongated housing uadaptedto beV positioned transversa'lly of the path of a rolling ball; anelongated open-fronted, ball-receiving chamber in the front of Isaidhousing; a plurality of longitudinally aligned lamp chambers in the rearof said housing; a window communicating between each llamp chamber andsaid ball-receiving chamber; a target lamp in each lamp chamberilluminating the window therein; a plurality of inclined flaps; hingemeans hingedly mounting the forward extremities of said flaps to saidhousing above the open front thereof, there being one of said flapspositioned above and forwardly of each window to form a substantiallycontinuous ceiling over said chamber; a oor in said ball-receivingchamber, the vertical distance between eaeh flap and said floor beingnormally less than the diameter of said ball so that when a ball enterson said lloor, it will urge the flap thereover upwardly; and a normallyclosed electric switch positioned to be actuated by each liap, each ofsaid switches being in circuit with one of said target lamps so thatwhen one of said flaps is urged upwardly by said ball, its associatedwindo will be darkened. Y

5. A simulated bowling game as described in claim 4 having a score boardpositioned above said housing; and a plurality of signal lamps supportedon said score board, said lamps being arranged in triangular arrangementsimilar to the conventional setting of bowling pins, said signal lampsbeing also in circuit with said switches so that the extinguishment of agiven target llamp will simultaneously extinguish one of said signallamps in said triangular arrangement.

6. A simulated bowling game comprising: a housing having an open frontadapted to receive a rolled ball, said housing being elongatedtransversely of the path of said ball, said front opening extending thefull width of said housing; a backing in said housing provided with aplurality of spaced window openings; a lamp chamber positionedrearwardly of each window opening; a target lamp in each chamberilluminating the window opening circuit-opening device positioned to becontacted and actuated by the upward movement of each ilap, each of saidcircuit-opening devices being in circuit with one of saidlamps so thatupward movement of anyap will darken the window opening positionedrearwardly thereof; and a oor tixedly mounted in said housing andpositioned to receive a ball and retain the latter in wedged relation toone of said flaps.

7. A simulated bowling game as described in claim 6 in which the forwardedge of said oor is positioned rearwardly of the forward hingedextremities of said flaps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS331,756 Baker Dec. 8, 1885 1,656,739 Kurtz Ian. 17, 1928 2,019,126 FeyOct. 29, 1935 2,223,255 Koci Nov. 26, 1940 2,300,402 Beach Nov. 3, 19422,455,012 King Nov. 3.0, 1948 2,601,552 Niewinski June 24, 1952Y2,652,252 Alexander Sept. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Nov'. 16,1932

